MovieChat Forums > Stella Dallas (1937) Discussion > The Itching Powder Scene ?

The Itching Powder Scene ?

posted 10 years ago by ms-zanadu
5 replies | jump to latest

I'm watching this movie right now for the very first time on TCM ( Turner Classic Movies ) excellent film so far and wonderful all star cast as well 😉 . Yet so far the only scene I just failed to see the humor in was what character Ed Munn did on the train 😒 . Why did Ed secretly rub itching powder on to his thumb then applied it to several people in the form of a handshake ? Then waited for them to start itching while Ed and Stella laughed hysterically ? 😕 So far this was the only scene that truly annoyed me in this film . IMPO This scene just seemed completely out of place for this fine film . It seemed to have absolutely no real purpose or sense to the storyline either .

Did anyone else think this scene could have been left out of this film too ?

[–] RigbyEleanor 10 years ago

Did anyone else think this scene could have been left out of this film too ?

I like that it was written in. It showed perfectly what type of sense of humor Stella had and why she and her husband were not a good match. Could you imagine him doing something so gauche and undignified as Ed Munn?

It also was a scene to set up the reason behind Laurel's peers not attending her party. The teacher was witness to them acting uncouth and told their parents.

[–] rtw416 10 years ago

It was character development...that little joke was something Laurels father would never do.
This was the 1930's-the haves and have nots were who you were.

[–] ms-zanadu 10 years ago

Well rtw416 it appears if we as viewers were to dislike character Ed Munn which it seemed so at any rate actor Alan Hale did a very realistic job of it lol 😄 😉 . Thanks rtw416 for your reply 😃 .

[–] rtw416 10 years ago

I respect everyones opinion.I entered a post with Alan Hale as the heading.
EleanorRigby replied

[–] ms-zanadu 10 years ago

That's a very interesting way of looking at it - well put here RigbyEleanor . 😉 Thanks so much for sharing your input on this and your reply too 😁 .